Skip to main content

EDUCATION

Undergraduate Program Advisor: Kevin Mikami

Mission

The Education Division’s mission is to foster the development of knowledgeable, proficient, and reflective teachers and educational leaders. Our programs are based in the liberal arts tradition, Catholic Marianist values, current research, best practices, and professional standards. In this context we develop educators who demonstrate ethical, effective and culturally responsive practices, and a commitment to building a just and peaceful society.

Program Information

All Chaminade University teacher licensure programs have been approved by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB). Licenses granted by HTSB are recognized in many other states through reciprocal agreements outlined by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. Specific information about licensure requirements for

Hawaii is found in the section below titled: Additional Licensure Requirements. To begin student teaching, candidates must have passing scores on Praxis II or have met subject-credit eligibility requirements per HSTB Guidelines. Information regarding Praxis exams can be found on the ETS website: www.ets.org/praxis/hi/requirements. Complete information about Hawaii State Approved Licensure can be found on the HTSB website: www.hawaiiteacherstandardsboard.org. For further information about all Chaminade Education Division programs, please visit the Division website: https://chaminade.edu/academics/education-behavioral-sciences/.

Degree Options

  • Bachelor of Science Elementary Education with Kindergarten to 6th Grade Licensure (Day Undergraduate Program)

  • Five-Year Integrated Bachelor And Master Of Arts In Teaching Program (MAT)

  • Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education for Oceania

Information for Licensure Programs for Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education

Additional Licensure Requirements (Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Programs)

Note: Praxis requirements are subject to change; visit the HTSB website at www.hawaiiteacherstandardsboard.org for the latest information.

Praxis Requirements can be found at the following website: (www.ets.org/praxis/hi)

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) licensure programs require that all applicants must:

  • Pass the Praxis II Exam or have met subject-credit eligibility requirements per Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) Guidelines before being placed for student teaching.

Field Experience Policies

Field experience is an integral part of the preparation of Chaminade teacher candidates, and involves a gradual induction into classrooms, first through Service Learning and Observation and Participation (O&P) activities and ultimately through student teaching in the candidate’s final semester. Field experience is designed and evaluated in the alignment with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) and professional standards for O&P and student teaching. In order to participate in field experiences, teacher candidates must meet all academic requirements, and must demonstrate the professional dispositions aligned with HTSB standards.

Observation & Participation

Selected pedagogical methods courses include up to 72 hours of Observation and Participation (O&P), which are required hours outside of the CUH classroom. These hours are required to be completed by the Chaminade student in an assigned public/private school classroom setting. The Chaminade student is responsible, upon registering for any course containing O&P, to submit all documentation so that he/she may be placed in an approved educational setting by the Field Services Director.

Required Documents

  • Observation and Participation Request Form

  • Criminal Background Check through the Hawaii Department of Education

  • Membership in the Student National Education Association (NEA) Program

  • Tuberculosis (TB) Clearance (valid within 2 years)

  • Completed Questionnaire for Field Experience Manual

  • Chaminade Student Identification Card (Except for Online & Military Base Undergraduate Program students)

Service Learning

Some education courses may add a field component to their class in the form of a Service Learning requirement rather than O&P. The details of a course’s service learning requirement will be found in the course syllabus.

Student Teaching

Unless otherwise approved by the Director of Field Experiences, student teaching is offered twice a year (July/August to December or January to May/June) and is aligned with the public schools’ teachers’ calendars. Student teaching is full-time, and completed under the supervision of a Cooperating Teacher and a University Supervisor in a public or private school. Candidates do not get paid for student teaching, but with the Director of Field Experiences and participating school approval, may be hired as a regular classroom teacher. Eligibility to student teach is dependent on the quality of course work and student dispositions over the duration of the program, and adherence to all HTSB and DOE requirements. Only teachers that are contracted full time are allowed to be paid during their student teaching practicum.

In order for Chaminade to include a graduate on the program completers list which is submitted to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, making them eligible for a teaching license in Hawaii, they need to complete student teaching in a Hawaii public, charter, or private school.

Note: Student teaching is equivalent to full time employment as a teacher; as such any outside commitments (athletics, outside employment, etc.) which will compromise a student’s ability to meet the time and work requirements of student teaching are strongly discouraged.

Student teaching requirements include:

  • Completion of all course requirements, including O&P assignments

  • Excellent O&P evaluations, including professional dispositions

  • A minimum of a 3.0 GPA in all Education program courses (including required Math and Psychology courses) and an overall GPA of 3.00

  • Student teaching application, including 3 recommendations from education faculty

  • Passing Praxis II scores or have met subject-credit eligibility requirements per Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) Guidelines

  • Proof of Fingerprinting clearance

  • Proof of TB clearance

  • Membership in the Student National Educational Association (NEA) program

  • Submission of a Graduation Clearance form

Academic Policies Advising

Students interested in majoring in Education are encourage to meet with an Education Division Advisor during their freshmen year. A course work plan will be designed for the student and this plan will be revised and updated according to the student’s needs. Any changes to the academic plan should be approved by the Education Division Advisor according to the student’s classified program.

Schedule

Students must follow the approved plan prepared with the Education Division Advisor. Any changes to the plan should be approved by the Education Division Advisor according to the student’s classified program.

Grades

Education students are required to maintain an overall GPA of 3.00. Students are allowed to repeat a course once, and may only repeat two courses during their program. Failure to maintain a satisfactory GPA may result in academic probation, suspension, or withdrawal from the program.

Licensure Recommendation

Recommendation for licensure is not guaranteed after acceptance into the Education program. Licensure recommendation is based on a student’s overall performance in the classroom and in the field.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites can be waived on a course-by-course basis with prior approval from the Instructor, Dean and Provost.

Course Substitutions

If a student has already taken a course at another institution that he/she feels is equivalent to a required course in Education, then a course substitution form may be filled out and submitted to the Dean for approval. A copy of the syllabus of the course being substituted must accompany the substitution form when it is submitted.

Catalog for Students to Follow

Students are required to meet the Education program requirements in the Catalog at the time of Declaration of Major. However, the Education Division reserves the right to make necessary and desirable changes, especially with reference to assuring that teacher candidates meet all Hawaii and professional licensure standards.

Knowledge/Skill/Disposition (KSD) Referral System

Any instructor can initiate a Knowledge/Skill/Disposition referral to the Dean at any time and for any candidate taking an education course where there is a documented need for remediation that would prevent a candidate from completing the licensure program. Upon referral, the candidate will meet with the Dean of Education to set up a remediation plan. Monitoring will be ongoing until the remediation is completed to the satisfaction of the Dean and referring instructor.